Volunteers of America - Fresh Start Recovery Center at Columbus House

Volunteers of America Ohio & Indiana is a national nonprofit, faith-based organization dedicated to helping people rebuild their lives and reach their full potential.

As an affiliate of the larger Volunteers of America network founded in 1896, it has a rich history of service, including pioneering halfway houses for released prisoners and providing affordable senior housing.

Guided by its mission 'To offer hope, restore dignity, and transform lives to help people reach their full potential' and a vision of 'A world where all people live in safety, with social, emotional and physical well-being, spiritual fulfillment, justice, and hope,' VOA OHIN operates as a ministry of service across 65 program locations in 16 communities in Ohio and Indiana, serving nearly 11,000 people annually.

It employs nearly 1,000 professionals who deliver evidence-based, trauma-informed programs focused on human services, emphasizing respect, trust, integrity, and innovation.

Core services include comprehensive housing solutions such as permanent supportive housing for homeless families and individuals with disabilities or mental illness, transitional housing with case management and life skills training, emergency shelters providing basic needs and referrals, and affordable senior housing to promote independent living.

In mental health and recovery, VOA OHIN offers family-focused residential treatment at Fresh Start Recovery Centers for pregnant women and mothers with substance use disorders, allowing them to stay with their children; men's recovery services for those in the criminal justice system; outpatient treatment with medication-assisted therapy; and recovery housing like Legacy Recovery House.

For veterans—one in five homeless adults—programs encompass the Veterans Resource Centers for transitional living, employment training, and job placement; Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) to prevent homelessness; suicide prevention through peer support and case management; and specialized housing like the Cleveland Domiciliary.

Criminal justice reentry initiatives provide residential programs with counseling, job-readiness training, and referrals to support ex-offenders in becoming productive community members.

Youth and family services promote positive development through prevention, early intervention, and crisis support, including Operation Backpack® for school supplies and Welcome Home Kits for transitioning families.

All programs are CARF-accredited, ensuring quality and accountability, and target underserved populations including veterans, women, families, seniors, those with disabilities, and the formerly incarcerated, fostering stability, autonomy, and dignity to build healthier communities.

What we treat

Treatment & Programs

Levels of Care

The treatment continuum at Fresh Start Recovery Center centers on a family-focused residential program that meets ASAM level 3.5 criteria, providing around-the-clock support. Following inpatient care, women can step down into the nearby Legacy Recovery House, a supportive sober living environment offering aftercare and intensive outpatient structure.

Inpatient (Residential) Intensive Outpatient Outpatient Sober Living Aftercare Support

Therapies

Clinicians utilize evidence-based therapeutic interventions that are tailored specifically to women, including motivational interviewing and gender-responsive care. Medication-assisted treatment is also integrated seamlessly with robust family and couples counseling to build a strong foundation for lifelong sobriety.

Addictions

The clinical team focuses extensively on substance use disorders, providing dedicated programming for women overcoming opioid addiction and other chemical dependencies. This highly specialized care is designed to break the generational cycle of addiction while promoting positive health outcomes for families.

Conditions

Recognizing that mental wellness is deeply intertwined with physical recovery, the center employs trauma-informed clinicians to address underlying emotional distress. A comprehensive behavioral health approach ensures that mothers receive tailored psychiatric evaluations and counseling to support lasting stability.

Issues

Case managers actively help clients navigate complex life stressors, prioritizing long-term solutions for homelessness and housing insecurity. Dedicated advocacy is also provided to help mothers confidently manage their involvement with the Department of Child Services or the family court system.

Homelessness/Housing Insecurity

Programs

The flagship Fresh Start Recovery Center program is a uniquely designed mother and child initiative that prevents family separation during intensive addiction treatment. Operating from a decidedly trauma-informed, evidence-based framework, the curriculum emphasizes whole-family healing and practical life skills.

Evidence Based Trauma-Informed Mother & Child Program

On-site

Amenities

Designed to keep families intact, the residential facility provides a sanctuary where mothers can live safely alongside their young children. The campus features embedded childcare services and dedicated educational spaces for pregnancy and childbirth classes, fostering a welcoming, home-like environment.

Coverage

Payment

Expanding access to vital behavioral health care, the organization works with a variety of financial pathways, including Medicaid, Medicare, and TRICARE. They also accept private policies from several major networks, such as Anthem, Aetna, MDWise, and United Healthcare, making treatment financially approachable.

Medicaid Anthem Medicare Tricare Aetna United Healthcare

Eligibility

Who We Serve

Built specifically for pregnant women and mothers, this location empowers clients to overcome addiction without ever leaving their children behind. Located in the heart of Columbus, Indiana, the facility provides a deeply supportive community for vulnerable women seeking to rebuild their lives.

Age Groups

Children (Under 13)

Populations Served

Veterans

Additional Services

Wraparound support forms the backbone of the recovery journey, featuring extensive case management and direct housing assistance to secure permanent living arrangements. Additional supportive services include specialized parenting skills development, connections to vital community medical care, and guidance through certified peer support professionals.

Housing AssistanceCase Management

About

Facility Info

Situated in a thriving city setting, Fresh Start Recovery Center operates as a critical ministry of service under the broader Volunteers of America Ohio & Indiana network. As a faith-based, nonprofit organization, the group remains dedicated to transforming lives and offering hope through compassionate human services.

Credentials

Accreditations

The organization's strong commitment to quality care is reflected in its formal accreditation by CARF International. Furthermore, specific behavioral health programs are fully certified by the Division of Mental Health and Addiction, ensuring strict accountability and adherence to clinical best practices.

ACHC CARF Joint Commission (JCAHO) LegitScript NAATP